DATE= MARCH 22, 1998
TYPE= EDITORIAL
NUMBER= 0-07703
TITLE= EDITORIAL: COHEN -- IRAQ CRISIS NOT OVER
CONTENT=THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED FOR BROADCAST
MARCH 22, 1998.
ANNCR:
THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE
VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.
VOICE:
UNITED NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTORS RECENTLY RETURNED TO IRAQ.
IT WAS THEIR FIRST VISIT SINCE U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN
SECURED AN AGREEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE, UNCONDITIONAL, AND
UNRESTRICTED ACCESS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. UNDER THE AGREEMENT,
WEAPONS INSPECTORS ARE TO HAVE ACCESS TO ALL SITES IN IRAQ. THAT
INCLUDES HUGE PRESIDENTIAL COMPLEXES AND MANY OTHER SITES THAT
THE BAGHDAD REGIME HAS BLOCKED U-N TEAMS FROM VISITING.
AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WILLIAM COHEN SAID, "IF FULFILLED BY
IRAQ, THIS AGREEMENT WILL AT LAST GIVE THE [U-N] INSPECTORS THE
ACCESS THEY NEED TO FIND AND DESTROY IRAQ'S CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL
AND NUCLEAR MATERIALS AND MUNITIONS; TO FIND AND DESTROY THE
MISSILES TO DELIVER THESE WEAPONS; AND TO INSTITUTE A SYSTEM FOR
LONG-TERM MONITORING TO ENSURE THAT IRAQ DOES NOT RECONSTITUTE OR
REBUILD MORE."
BUT THE CRISIS WITH IRAQ IS NOT OVER. YEARS OF IRAQI DELAYS,
DECEPTION AND DECEIT HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT IRAQI DICTATOR
SADDAM HUSSEIN CANNOT BE TRUSTED. AS MR. COHEN SAID, "IRAQ MAY
STILL BE HIDING MUNITIONS AND OPERATIONAL MISSILES WITH WARHEADS
FILLED WITH DEADLY CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL AGENTS."
IRAQ MUST PRODUCE HARD EVIDENCE TO SHOW THAT ALL ITS
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED. AS
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE COHEN SAID, "ONLY WHEN SADDAM IS IN FULL
COMPLIANCE WITH ALL RELEVANT U-N RESOLUTIONS WILL THERE BE
SANCTIONS RELIEF FOR THE IRAQI PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED SO
NEEDLESSLY FOR HIS INTRANSIGENCE. IN SHORT, SADDAM STILL HAS
MANY PROMISES TO KEEP AND THE INSPECTORS STILL HAVE MILES TO GO
BEFORE IRAQ CAN INSIST ON SANCTIONS RELIEF. THAT IS WHY THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST REMAIN VIGILANT. AND THAT IS WHY
[THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES] WILL MAINTAIN OUR FORCES IN
THE REGION AT THE READY."
ANNCR:
THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT. IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS,
V-O-A, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO COMMENT AT
WWW-DOT-VOA-DOT-GOV-SLASH-EDITORIALS, OR FAX US AT (202)
619-1043.
20-Mar-98 12:17 PM EST (1717 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.